November 11, 2008. Copyright 2008, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Hosni Mubarak: An enigma for a quarter of a century
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, November 11, Graphic News:  Aged 80 and after almost three decades in power, it would surely come as no surprise if Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak were ready to relax his grip on power. But no one should make the mistake of thinking that the Arab leader is ready to bow out just yet.

After he pardoned in October 2008 a journalist who had been jailed for querying his health, speculation was rife as to whether this was a sign that a weakening president was caving in to pressure from within and outside Egypt to encourage democracy. Meanwhile, he has stepped up his efforts to influence the Middle East peace process, in which the world's most populous Arab country has the ear of Israel.

Born on May 4, 1928, Mubarak was an air force pilot before becoming president following the assassination by militants of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. Since then he has been a quasi-military ruler: he has maintained order with a far-reaching emergency law, censored the media and won three elections virtually unopposed.

In the fourth polls in 2005 he finally allowed rivals to run but then cracked down on opposition activists following gains by the Muslim Brotherhood. He has justified such measures by citing a threat from Islamist extremists, but has faced pressure to ease his grip from within Egypt and the U.S., still a friend despite his opposition to the Iraq war (He said the U.S.-led invasion would create "100 Bin Ladens").

After a quarter of a century of absolutist, Pharaoh-style rule, Mubarak still has three more years left in his six-year term in office. An enigmatic leader who reveals little of his personality to his people, Mubarak is keeping especially quiet about his successor. He has denied speculation that his son Gamal, who has risen through the ranks of the National Democratic Party, is being groomed to take over.

In recognition of widespread economic hardship brought on by soaring food prices -- World Bank figures show one in five Egyptians living below the poverty line -- Gamal has introduced anti-poverty campaigns across Egypt. Despite these moves, many ordinary Egyptians are not quite sure whether or not a Mubarak dynasty would be welcome.
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